Bringing the plants to the people: canopy gardens

6/3/2014

The Auckland Botanic Gardens this week announced plans for a 19 m high "sculptural tree" that will allow people to explore and experience our epiphyte flora. They have called the structure an "Epiphytum" and plan to include a classroom, rain shelter and lighting for night events. This awesome idea led me to explore other structures and gardens that bring canopy flora to the people.

"Epiphytum" concept for the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Image: Andrew Patterson.

The Bok Tower Gardens in Florida have this clever display of epiphytes on an invisible wall, maybe fine netting?

Epiphyte wall at the Bok Tower Gardens. Photo: Carrie Barton.

Then there are vertical gardens/green walls which commonly utilise epiphyte species:

CapitaLand, Singapore by Patrick Blanc. Check out his awesome website: www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com

Green wall in Panama. Photo: www.greenwall.com.au

This interesting blog features string gardens - I wonder how our epiphyte species would handle hanging in mid air?

Fedor van der Valk string garden! Photo: josephtheprince.blogspot.co.nz

And then there is the Cloud Forest at Gardens at the Bay, Singapore. This enormous display of tropical montane epiphytes features species from around the world:

The Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. Photos from www.gardensbythebay.com.sg & happilyeverwedding.blogspot.co.nz.

If you know of other structures or clever garden ideas that bring epiphytes closer to people then please let us know!

1 Comment

Kirsty Myron

27/4/2014 12:08:10 am

Green walls are neat huh? There is large green wall near me on the local Westfield Mall, I'll take a few snaps of it next time I'm up there. I recently read an article on the ability of green walls to sequest PM pollution: http://publications.arup.com/Publications/C/Cities_Alive.aspx

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Catherine Kirby

I work with NZ's native vascular epiphytes at the University of Waikato. I completed an MSc on epiphyte ecology and the shrub epiphyte Griselinia lucida and have recently published the Field Guide to NZ's Epiphytes, Vines & Mistletoes.

For me, the highlights of epiphyte research are the many unknowns, the amazing way that these plants survive in the canopy, and of course tree climbing!

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